Why Jesus Says: Do Not Be AnxiousНамуна

Why we should not be anxious

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life” (Matthew 6:25)

Many people try not to worry but ‘just be happy’ and ‘enjoy life.’ The assumption behind this advice is that anxiety makes you unhappy and, therefore, is to be avoided. Although this makes sense in most cases, it’s a rather superficial point of view.

In today’s Bible verse, Jesus also tells us not to be anxious about our lives. But He connects this exhortation to previous sayings: “Therefore, I tell you…” So, what is the reason we should not be anxious? It’s because you cannot serve God and money or possessions at the same time (Matthew 6:24). If we worry about all kinds of earthly things, this shows that our hearts are more focused on those things than on God.

That’s a serious claim. Jesus’ words teach us that being anxious is not just irritating for ourselves. It is a sign that our priorities in life are out of balance, that we worry too much about “treasures on earth” instead of “treasures in heaven.” Seen in this light, anxiety is not merely annoying but sinful! Have you ever considered anxiety in this light?